Battery ban

If you are a do-it-your-self mechanic, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency wants you to know you can no longer throw that old car battery in the trash.

A new law that took effect this week bans lead acid batteries from Ohio landfills.

In addition to lead, the batteries contain sulfuric acid. Both can poison groundwater.

Most retailers that sell batteries also recycle old ones and have been doing it for years. The new law would make these stores also take lead batteries that people bring in from their homes. People can also take lead batteries to household hazardous waste pick up events, said Linda Fee Oros, an Ohio EPA spokeswoman.